Props re fire starting.


Observations re suprises re same:

No handhold for the top of the spindle.

Fireboard a round branch not much wider than spindle.

Fireboard not notched to allow coal to fall out onto tinder.

Fire started in / on fireboard.


Queries re same:

Observations correct?

Type of wood?

Why / what advatages to things observed [very different from the guidelines I am following]?

Thanks!

Dweste,

I was actually using a porcelain insulator cap from an electric fence for my upper bearing block. The teacher had assorted bearing blocks made from wood, antler, shells, and even teflon blocks. I found the insulator worked best for me.

Both the spindle and the fireboard were made from the well-dried flower stalk of yucca. The fireboard part of the stalk split in half, it just looks round in the picture.

The fireboard was notched, you just can't see it well in the picture.

The fireboard develop a very large coal which remained attached to the board rather than falling into the tinder. When the frayed jute we were using as tinder ignited it lit the fireboard on fire, too. There were better shots of the tinder smoking and glowing, but the picture I posted was more dramatic.

Choosing the right wood is very, very important. What I didn't realize is how important it was to get just the right amount of tension, friction, and spin. My wife commented that it was a lot like learning how to drive a stickshift. My biggest problem was keeping the hand/arm holding the bearing block locked against my leg. That's my weak arm due to shattering the elbow years ago. Anyway, the spindle kept hoping off the fireboard. A friend eventually clamped down on the arm to hold it in place. Once he did that I had fire in less than two minutes. Time to do more pushups, I think.

-Blast

Thanks for the clarifications!

Check out the so-called Egyptian Bow Drill technique; for many of us it helps a lot to reduce unwanted spindle movement.

Here here dweste, Blast take a look at daves video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZtTd19_cgY he narrates it in a good point but puts a good twist that may pertain to you. This method is ideal because it accomplishes many things. First it starts your fire with very little to no effort by you using your kydex knife sheath as a block, second puts the girls to work so that they stay out of trouble, third it tires them out so they sleep better that night and will reduce the amount they are constantly distracting your attention on other matters while wanting you to explain everything under the sun. But sometimes it is good to teach the kids things all the time when you have that time available, it's just nice to take a breather from time to time.